Thanks for this video! I used to come up to the strangers before church service to greet them and to chat a little bit. And enjoyed it very much! I am not doing it anymore... some look at you like you are some kinda nut or something and any desire to greet somebody disappear...
That is not a reason to stop greeting strangers. To ignore strangers is the opposite of loving them. We must try to engage others within and without the church for the sake of the gospel. What if one person you greeted was seeking someone to make them feel welcome and accepted? You will have made an impact.
Thanks for the Word, Francis! Quick note on the translation of “favoritism”: James uses the Greek work προσωπολημψια which is best literally translated as “receiving of one’s face.” You come to the right conclusion all the same: Among God’s people there should be no distinction.
Abraham was justified by the moving of his arm on the axe towards his son's head (aka - Faith) (belief + conviction/strong intent), not by the head falling to the floor (actual results of moving actions/works). He was justified right before the head was cut off, not after. In the same way, we are justified right when we get the faith, and before we put our faith into action, not after it's all said and done (like some mormons believe from 2 Nephi 25:23). While this point seems almost irrelevant, it's very important and is very anti-religious. So while actions alone won't save us and faith kinda will, the specific type of Salvific Faith in Christ produces so much adrenaline faith and conviction that actions *tend to* happen a LOT, and are also a good indicator of whether a person has the good flavor of Faith to begin with (See "The Doctrine of Sanctification" or the "Third use of the Law"). James 2:24 doesn't say that we are justified by works, but it does indicate how we can use the works we have as a very reliable lens to view faith. All James 2 meant was that the heads on the floor as a result of intent indicates that the arm was likely moving towards it with an axe. No one should disagree with this. In fact, a head on the ground is a FANTASTIC piece of evidence of moving faith that everyone should see as having great value. Therefore, if you definite it technically, Faith without works isn't really dead, but only if the Faith is heavy enough to have God convinced (good luck with that). In other words, if God stops your hand from killing Issac, you are still justified by the hand that moved the axe, even though his head is still attached to his body. The thief on the cross had heavy Faith with no works, and made it to paradise with no actions at all, but if he were to live 5 more years, he would of had a transformed life with free flowing fruits that everyone could have seen as an indicator of his faith. I like the thief on the cross, because it shows us what true saving faith without works would require, which is a supernatural change in heart (Ezekiel 36:26). A change in heart will always generate a change in actions, but like I said, the thief on the cross died before his fruits could of been seen by others. It's the actions of God on the heart, and convincing Faith in Christ that saved him, but it was the evidence of works that would of justified his faith to everyone else around (if he had lived a little longer).
James 1:27 PURE and undefiled RELIGION BEFORE GOD and The Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble.....What can the orphan and widow give you.... not a thing
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 By that standard he is also talking to us.
I stopped listening to Christians when they try to give me the moral of the story with morality, because they preach the Bible on particular lessons, while letting a family member or friend off the hook with excuses on why they don't teach and treat them the same way. Pastors are notorious for this when they preach all the wrong men do, but don't say a word to the women. I'll stick just to the Bible. Are all Christians like this? Of course not. I'm just sick and tired of it.
